It was noted that apologies for absence had been received
from Councillor Round.

Councillor English advised the Committee in advance that he
would not be able to attend the whole of the meeting.

</AI1>

<AI2>

230.Notification of
Substitute Members

It was noted that Councillor M Burton was substituting for
Councillor Round.

</AI2>

<AI3>

231.Notification of
Visiting Members

Councillors Lewins and Mrs Robertson indicated their wish to
speak on the report of the Head of Planning and Development relating to
application 16/503641.

Councillor Springett indicated her wish to speak on the
reports of the Head of Planning and Development relating to applications
16/506630 and 16/507158.

It was noted that Councillor Willis wished to speak on the
report of the Head of Planning and Development relating to application
16/503641, but would be late in arriving at the meeting.

</AI3>

<AI4>

232.Items withdrawn from
the Agenda

There were none.

</AI4>

<AI5>

233.Urgent Items

The Chairman stated that, in his opinion, the update reports
of the Head of Planning and Development should be taken as urgent items as they
contained further information relating to the applications to be considered at
the meeting.

</AI5>

<AI6>

234.Disclosures by Members
and Officers

With regard to the report of the Head of Planning and
Development relating to application 16/507358 (Former Royal Mail Depot),
Councillor English said that some Members present, including himself, were
Members/Substitute Members of the Policy and Resources Committee which had
discussed the purchase of the application site by the Borough and County
Councils. In his opinion, this had not influenced his view, or any other
Member’s view, on the planning application.

</AI6>

<AI7>

235.Exempt Items

RESOLVED: That the items on the agenda
be taken in public as proposed.

</AI7>

<AI8>

236.Minutes of the meeting
held on 17 November 2016

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the
meeting held on 17 November 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed.

The Committee considered the response of the Strategic
Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee to its request that it
look, in consultation with the appropriate County Council Member, at traffic
and parking issues in West Street, Harrietsham and the surrounding area, and
how they might be addressed by Traffic Regulation Orders. It was noted that
whilst the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee
acknowledged that its responsibilities included district highways and car
parking functions, it would be content for issues such as those described above
to be referred direct from the Planning Committee to the Maidstone Joint Transportation
Board. However, the Committee did ask that, when making such referrals,
consideration should be given as to whether its input might be required.

16/505311 – CHANGE
OF USE FROM A C3 (4 BEDROOM HOUSE) TO SUI GENERIS FOR MULTIPLE OCCUPANCY OF 8
BEDROOMS, CONVERSION OF LOFT WITH THE INSERTION OF ROOFLIGHTS AND SIDE DORMER
WINDOW, CONVERSION OF GARAGE TO BEDROOM WITH ALTERATIONS AND PROVISION OF
ADDITIONAL PARKING - 47 FREEMAN WAY, MAIDSTONE, KENT

The Development Manager advised Members that he had nothing
further to report in respect of these applications at present. He hoped to be
in a position to report the applications back to the Committee in the near
future.

</AI11>

<AI12>

240.16/503641 - RESERVED
MATTERS OF APPEARANCE, LANDSCAPING, LAYOUT AND SCALE FOR PHASE 1 FOR ERECTION
OF 183 DWELLINGS WITH ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE PURSUANT TO OUTLINE APPROVAL
REF 13/1749 - LAND TO THE EAST OF HERMITAGE LANE, MAIDSTONE, KENT

All Members stated that they had been lobbied.

The Committee considered the report and the urgent update
reports of the Head of Planning and Development.

Mrs Bates, an objector, Mrs Poletti of the New Allington
Action Group (against), Mr Brown, for the applicant, and Councillors Mrs
Robertson, Lewins and Willis (Visiting Members) addressed the meeting.

During the discussion on the application, the Officers were
asked to ensure that renewables and swift bricks and bat boxes etc. are
incorporated integrally into the fabric of the development.

RESOLVED: That permission be granted subject
to the conditions and informatives set out in the report as amended by the
first urgent update report.

Voting: 10 – For 0 – Against 3 -
Abstentions

Note: Councillor Willis entered the meeting during the
Development Manager’s presentation on this application (6.20 p.m.).

Contrary to the recommendation of the Head of Planning and
Development, the Committee agreed to refuse permission. In making this
decision, Members felt that the proposal by reason of its size, siting and
design would provide a cramped form of development that would be out of keeping
and detrimental to the general character, appearance and spaciousness of the
area contrary to paragraphs 56 to 58, 60, 61 and 64 of the NPPF and policies
DM1 and DM8 of the emerging Maidstone Local Plan (Submission Draft) 2016.

RESOLVED: That permission be refused
for the following reason:

The proposal by reason of its size, siting and design would
provide a cramped form of development that would be out of keeping and
detrimental to the general character, appearance and spaciousness of the area
contrary to paragraphs 56 to 58, 60, 61 and 64 of the NPPF and policies DM1 and
DM8 of the emerging Maidstone Local Plan (Submission Draft) 2016.

Voting: 13 – For 0 – Against 0 –
Abstentions

Note: Councillor English left the meeting after
consideration of this application (8.15 p.m.).

RESOLVED: That permission be granted subject
to the conditions and informatives set out in the report.

Voting: 11 – For 0 – Against 1 –
Abstention

</AI14>

<AI15>

243.16/506756 - DEMOLITION
OF THE EXISTING COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS ON THE SITE AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF 5 NO.
DWELLINGS ALONGSIDE ASSOCIATED PARKING, ACCESS AND LANDSCAPING WORKS - WILSONS
YARD, GEORGE STREET, HUNTON, KENT

All Members except Councillor Mrs Stockell stated that they
had been lobbied.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning
and Development.

Mr Collins addressed the meeting on behalf of the applicant.

RESOLVED: That permission be refused for the
reasons and informative set out in the report.

The Committee considered the report and the urgent update
report of the Head of Planning and Development.

Mrs Woodward, an objector, addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED: That permission be granted subject
to the conditions and informatives set out in the report, as amended by the
urgent update report, with the amendment of condition 3 as follows:

No development shall take place until samples of the
materials to be used in the construction of the external surfaces of the
building and hard surfaces hereby permitted,
which shall include the incorporation of Swift bricks within the fabric of the
building, including their positioning on the building,
have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning
Authority. The development shall thereafter be undertaken in accordance with
the subsequently approved details.

Reason: In the interests of biodiversity and for the
provision of a satisfactory appearance to the development.

Voting: 11 – For 1 – Against 0 -
Abstentions

</AI16>

<AI17>

245.16/507358 - CHANGE OF
USE OF ROYAL MAIL DEPOT AND ANCILLARY OFFICES TO A MIX OF USES COMPRISING OF
USE OF FORMER ROYAL MAIL ADMINISTRATION BLOCK AS B1A (OFFICES), USE OF MAIN
WAREHOUSE FOR CAR PARKING, USE OF WAREHOUSE 2 FOR A MIXED USE OF B8 AND A1
RETAIL WAREHOUSE, USE OF UNDERCROFT PARKING AS A CARPARK, ALL WITH ASSOCIATED
OPERATIONAL WORKS FOR A TEMPORARY PERIOD OF 5 YEARS - FORMER ROYAL MAIL DEPOT,
98 SANDLING ROAD, MAIDSTONE, KENT

The Committee considered the report and the urgent update
report of the Head of Planning and Development.

RESOLVED: That the Head of Planning and
Development be given delegated powers to grant permission subject to the
conditions and informatives set out in the report.

Voting: 12 – For 0 – Against 0 –
Abstentions

</AI17>

<AI18>

246.Appeal Decisions

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning
and Development setting out details of appeal decisions received since the last
meeting.